Self-serving sink



March 26, 1957 E. R. CULVER, JR 2,786,211

SELF-SERVING SINK Filed Feb. 9. 1955 ZSheets-Sheet 1 lyre-#742.-

[7rd at! March 26, 1957 R. CULVER, JR 2,786,211

SELF-SERVING smx United States Patent SELF-SERVING SINK Edwin R. Culver, Ja, St. Charles, Mo.,- assigl'lor to Wrought Iron Range company, St. Louis, Mo, a cor poration of Missouri Application February a, 1955, serial No. 487,201

3 Claims. c1. 4-187) This invention relates generally to kitchen sinks and particularly to a self-serving sink unit, installation of which may be readily accomplished.

Electric power is now available in the vast majority of American homes, rural and urban, and the use of electrically operated domestic appliances, such as refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, etc., is as commonplace in the country as in the city. Paradoxically the bringing of electricity into the rural homes has thus far failed, in a remarkably high percentage of cases, to relieve farm families of the disagreeable and never-ending chore of carrying water into the kitchen. After surveying a number of hill-country homes, I concluded that fewer homes had running water in the kitchen than had electric refrigerators; Indeed it appeared that there were fewer homes without electricity than there were electrified homes with running water. The factthat almost everyone has electric lights and a radio, and so many' have refrigerators and washing machines but so few rural families have running water in the house aroused my curiosity as to the reason why the water pail (and dipper) has not been superseded. I

My study has indicated that water will not be brought running into country kitchens on any substantial scale until an appliance for so doing is provided which, like the electric refrigerator, can be installed and made ready to operate without necessitating the use of tools which the farmer does not have at hand. Consequently, it is the object of the invention, generally stated, to provide a self-contained and self-serving sink organization which can be installed and put into operation by the average farmer without special equipment.

The satisfactory accomplishment of this objective involvesnotonly the integrating into one package of the pump, the heater, the sink and other accessories, but the arrangement of them; within the package, in a manner such that the parts, which are likely to need adjustment, repair, or replacement from time to time, are accessible without having to move the assembly from its fixed location, and: without having to move other parts to get at those which require attention.

One embodiment of the invention also contemplates the provision of the aforesaid package with appropriate lengths of flexible conduit such as polyethylene or other plastic hose for the supply and waste line. While' these flexible conduits need not be permanently connected to the package, provisionmust be made for their connec tion without need for plumbcrs tools, and withal to accomplish their connection without complication.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide, in a single package a sink, pump,hot'water heater and pressure tank and controls and safety devices for them, in which the parts which are likely to need adjustment, repair or replacement are immediately accessible.

Another objectis to provide such-a package unit which is readily installed by a person having those usual skills that a farmer possesses.-

Other objects will appear as the following description 2,786,211 Patented Mar; 26, 1957 is read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment 6f complete self-serving sink showing in dotted lines the location of the hot water tank and pump; I

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the self-serving sink of Figure l, with the access door open and parts shown in section to reveal the co-relation of the several elements;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3- 3- of Figure 2, and showing, schematically, the electrical connections within the device;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective showing another embodiment of self serving sink;

Figure 5 is a view in front elevation of the embodiment of sink shown in Figure 4, partly broken away and partly in section, showing the relation of the various elements inside the sink;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-'-"-'-'6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 3, the exterior structure is aconventional range shell consisting of a suitable frame with front panels '1', '2, 3, and 4 the latter of which is hinged along its side to provide an access door.- On top of the aforesaid shell a sink top having a sink 5 anda drainboard 6 is provided tog-ether with any suitable arrangement of hot and cold water faucets, such as valve levers 7 and 8, and spout 9.

In the space behind panel 1, a hotwater tank 11 is provided. The tank 11 may extend into the space behind panel 2 as shown, or alternatively, be of less capacity arid the space behind panel 2 utilized as a drawer. The tank 11 is surrounded with suitable insulation 12 confined by the exterior walls and interior partitions such as 13. The tank is preferably provided with a corrosion anode 14 of a type well known in the art. The tank 11 is also provided with an electric heating element 15,- which extends through a tube 16 between tank 11 and partition 13' so that the element maybe removed from the opposite side of partition 13 which is accessible in the space behind panel 4'. V 4

In the space behind panel 4, there is provided an electric motor driven pump 17 well known in the art of farm water supply systems. Where operation of the pump is automatic, the control devices therefor are also locate'd in the space behind panel 4. For example, in the form shown, a small tank 18 is arranged above pump 1-7 and provided with a float 19 arranged to close a switch 20 Whenever the water level (and hence the air pressure) therein falls below a predetermined level; it being understood that the air pressure in tank 18 will always be in excess of the static head to the highest water outlet served thereby, such as sp'out 9. When the air pressure in tank 1-3 falls below that value, the switch 20 automatically completes an electric circuit which operates the pump 17. Hence the pressure in tank 18 is always sufiicient to'overcome the static head of the water contained in tank-11 so that the latter will not drain back through tank 18.

, While automatic operation of the pump is preferable, it will be understood that by providing suitable switches for actuation when the valve levers 7 or 8 are moved, the pump may be turned on and off concurrently with the opening and closing of the valves. In such a case however, suitable means, such as check valves, must be provided to assure that the water in tank 11 will not drain back through tank 18'. j

A pipe 21 connects pump 17 with tank 18; A pip'e*22 extends from tank 18 to a T 23 from whence" a pipe 24 extends to the cold water valve 25', and a pipe 2'6 616- tends to the bottom of tank 11. The latter is provided with a branch 27 having a cock 28 for completely draining the tank 11 if need be. The cock 28 is, of course, normally closed. If desired, other branch pipes may be connected to pipe 22 to supply cold water to other fixtures.

A pipe 29 extends from a high level in tank 11 to a T 30 from whence a pipe 31 extends to hot water valve 32. From T 30 a branch extends to a relief valve 33, the discharge side of which is connected through pipe 34 with spout 9. The relief valve 33 is adjusted to open only upon the attainment of inordinately high pressures approaching the danger level in tank 11, and it is connected to discharge through spout 9 so as to serve as a signal to show that something exceptional is wrong, as well as to relieve the pressure.

A supply line 34 extends to pump 17. In the form shown, the line 34' is connected to a T 35 which is connected to cock 28 (which is normally closed). The T 35 is provided with a union connection 36 situated for ready connection with a companion union part 37 on a length of copper tubing 38. It is contemplated that the tubing 38 be provided in lengths approximating the distance from the sink location to the bottom of the well, cistern, or other water supply source. For example, it may be twenty, twenty-five, thirty, etc., feet long, and the excess length coiled up beneath the floor 39 of the sink cabinet so as to avoid the necessity for cutting and soldering connections. The end of the tubing 38 which goes down into the well is preferably provided with a strainer 40.

It will be observed that, in this embodiment, the supply pipe 34 enters pump 17 at the top. Thus, even if the pump parts should become so worn that water from tank 18 drains back through the pump and supply line 34 (or if the power goes off, or if the system is drained), the pump will nevertheless retain enough water to prime itself when it resumes operation. In the event, however, that the pump employed is not so constructed as to substantially prohibit back-flow through it, a check valve 41 may be inserted in line 34' between pump 17 and T 35; and the check valve may be of a type which is manually releasable to permit drainage of the system. Indeed except for the desirability of providing for system drainage back into the water supply source (most farmers have great antipathy for waste of water, particularly those who have once suffered the misfortune of having their well go dry), an ordinary foot valve could be incorporated in the same fitting with strainer 40.

The electrical connections include an extension cord 42 of length sufiicient to reach to the nearest plugin outlet. The cord leads to terminals 43 and 44 in receptacle 45. The receptacle 45 has detachable connections with a cord 46 leading to the pump motor terminals, one of which is connected through cord 48 for control by float switch 20. From terminal 43, one leg 49 of the circuit extends directly to heater 15, and the return leg 50 extends from the heater in series through a thermostatic switch 51 and an overheat cutout 52 to terminal 53 of switch 54, the opposite terminal of which is connected to terminal 44 of the cord 42. The switch 54 is for manual control of the heater 15 so that the latter may be disconnected without affecting the supply of cold water.

The thermo-sensitive elements of switch 51 and cutout 52 are enclosed in a tube 55 where they are placed in ber may be raised to clear the top edges of pan 59, then turned on the axis of ferrule 56 to clear the sides of pan 59, then lowered through a hole in the floor 39 to an extent sufiicient to free the trap from the ferrule; thereby the trap member may be removed (it is replacd in the opposite order). When thus removed, the familiar slop bucket may be placed in pan 59 to receive the discharge from ferrule 56. The bottom of pan 59 is provided with ferrule 60, which is in turn connected to a length of plastic hose 61, preferably having a diameter of about two inches. The hose 61 constitutes the waste line and may be run through the floor of the house to the chicken yard, the garden, or any suitable location. Indeed if care is taken to loop the hose 61 over itself, as shown, somewhere intermediate its length, it will form it own trap; and the trap member 57 may be dispensed with by applying hose 61 directly to ferrule 56.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that all of the elements of the self-serving sink, which may require attention from time to time, are easily accessible through the hinged panel 4. Thus, the pump and the float valve are at the front of the space behind panel 4; the heater 15 is removable through partition 13 between the pump and tank 18; and the thermal controls are removable through partition 13 above the tank 18. The connection between T 35 and tubing 38 may readily be made at a convenient location after the sink is placed in position. The pan 59 is readily removable so that the connection between hose 61 and ferrule 60 may be made on the outside, and then the free end of hose 61 threaded through the hole in floor 39 and the companion hole in the floor of the house. Indeed the holes in the floor 39 are preferably of sufficient size that the necessary holes through the floor of the house (to accommodate hose 61 and tubing 38) may be cut after the sink is in its permanent location. Indeed all that is necessary to install the sink with hot and cold running water is to cut the necessary holes in the floor or wall of the house to accommodate the supply and waste lines, unreel the copper tubing into the water supply source, and plug the cord into the nearest electric outlet.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figures 4 through 7, a more compact and simple arrangement is provided for those installations in which a permanent electric connection is to be made to the hot water heater and in which the waste pipe from the sink is to be of the standard variety which is connected with a waste pipe leading to the sewer, septic tank or cess pool. It is to be understood, however, that various of the features of the two embodiments shown and described may be interchanged.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 4 through 7 the exterior structure is a modified range shell consisting of a suitable frame with a panel 101 hinged along one side, a panel 102 hinged along one side and a drawer 103, having a drawer pull 104. On top of the shell is a sink top having a sink 105 and a drainboard 106. A lever of a cold water valve 107, a lever of hot water valve 108, a spout 109 and a spray head 110 project from the sink top along the sink 105.

Below the drawer 103 in the space behind the panel 101,

s a hot Water tank 111 is provided. The tank 111 is surrounded with suitable insulation 112, and is separated from the pump and pressure tank compartment behind the panel 102 by a partition 113. The tank is provided with a corrosion anode 114 and with an electric heating element 115, which extends into the tank 111 from the front of the tank near the bottom of the tank. The electric heating element is preferably of the kind which operates on ordinary 110 volt house current, although in this embodiment the wiring to the heater is described as being a separate circuit directly to the main service entrance of the house. It can be seen that the heating element 115 may easily be unbolted and pulled straight out from the front of the tank through the opening created when the panel 101 is swung out.

In the space behind panel 102 there is a water pump 117 driven by an electric motor 116. A pressure switch 118 is electrically connected to the motor 116 and mechanically connected to the discharge side of the pump 117. In this embodiment, a check valve 120 is connected to the inlet side of the pump 117. With such an arrangement, the pressure at the discharge side of the pump and the pressure in the pressure tank 121, to which the discharge side of the pump is connected by means of a pipe 122, are the same. A pressure gauge 123 visually indicates the pressure in the tank 121. The pressure gauge 123 in this embodiment is combined with an air volume control, which is connected through a snifter valve to the intake side of the pump 117. The snifter valve and air control permit a controlled amount of air to be drawn in with the water, in order to maintain a cushion of compressed air in the pressure tank 121. The pressure switch 118 is set to cut 011 the motor 116 when the pressure at the discharge side of the pump exceeds a preset amount sufiicient to overcome the head of water to the spout 109. An electric cord 125 from the pressure switch 118 is provided at its free end with a plug 126. The plug 126 takes into a socket 127 which is mounted in the partition 113 and is electrically connected to the same circuit as the heater.

An outlet pipe 130, connected to one end of the pressure tank 121 near the bottom, is provided with a T 131. From the T 131, a pipe 132 leads into the Water heater 111. The pipe 132 is provided with a shut-off valve 133, and a drain valve 134 between the T 131 and the water heater 111. From the top of the T 131 a cold water line 136 leads to the cold water valve 107. A hot water pipe 138 is connected to the hot water tank 111 at one end and to a T 139 at its other end. A safety valve 143 is connected to the bottom of the T 139. A pipe leads from the top of the T 139 to the hot water valve 108. The safety valve 143 is also connected to a T 145. A flexible tube 147 is connected at one end to the bottom of the T 145, and at the other end to the spray head 110. A pipe 149 leads from the top of the T 145 to a mixer valve. The mixer valve is of standard construction and operates to direct the water from the valves 107 and 108 through the spout 109 when the spray head 110 is closed, and to shut off the flow of water through the spout 109 and direct it through the spray head 110 when the spray head 110 is open.

The safety valve 143 is set to open when excessive pressure is built up in the water heater 111, to permit the water or steam to escape into the T 145, thence out through the spout 109 and into the sink 105. This is an extra safety precaution. The temperature of the water heater is normally controlled by a thermostatic switch 150, and to protct against its failure, a safety thermal overload cutout 152 is provided which cuts otf the current to the heater 115 when the temperature of the tank becomes too high for safety.

It can be seen that with the arrangement described, the heating element 115, thermostatic switch 150 and overload cutout 152 are immediately accessible behind the hinged front panel 101. The motor 116 pressure switch 118 pressure gauge 123 and all of the piping from the pump are accessible behind the hinged panel 102. The electric motor 116 may be disconnected from the electrical system for removal or repair simply by pulling out the plug 126.

The water heater 111 may be isolated from the rest of the unit merely by closing the shutoff valve 133. The water heater can be drained by opening the drain valve 134, and any repair, replacement or inspection of the water heater can be made while the cold water system remains entirely operative.

All of the water supply piping and the drain pipe are readily accessible.

While two embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, and some alternatives indicated, it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to the details of the foregoing disclosure. On the contrary, such modifications as suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention are contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. As a package unit, a container provided by a cabinet and a top closure for the container provided by a kitchen sink top having a sink and a drainboard, a vertical partition within said cabinet and extending transversely thereof to define two compartments therein; one of said com partments being below the drainboard, the other, below the sink; a water heater tank within the compartment below the drainboard, said water heater tank being insulated within its compartment from the other compartment; heating means within said water heater containing compartment; a water pump within the said other compartment, the discharge side of said water pump being connected by piping arranged in parallel to deliver cold water to a cold water tap and to said hot water heater tank, valve means between said water pump and said water heater tank whereby the water heater tank can be disconnected from the said pump without disconnecting the cold water tap from the pump; a hot water tap having a valve and a spout extending outside of said cabinet, said valve being connected by a hot water supply pipe to said water heater tank, a pipe line connected to the hot water supply pipe and communicating with said spout and a pressure releasing device constructed to open at a predetermined abnormally high pressure and positioned in the said pipe line between the hot water supply pipe and the spout; and controls for the said pump and water heater tank heating unit, said pump, water heater tank, and controls being removably mounted within said cabinet for ready accessibility from the front thereof.

2. In a cabinet type sink wherein hot and cold water valves are arranged to admit water to a common spout and wherein a water heater tank, heating means for said water heater tank and thermostatic controls for said water heater tank heating means are all contained within the cabinet, said water heater tank being connected by hot water supply pipe to the said hot water valve, the improvement comprising a pipe line connected to the said hot water supply pipe and communicating with said spout, and a pressure releasing device constructed to open at a predetermined abnormally high pressure and positioned in the said pipe line between the hot water supply pipe and the spout.

3. As a package unit, a container provided by a cabinet, and a top closure for said container provided by a sink top having a drainboard and a sink with a drain outlet, said container being divided transversely into two compartments, one beneath the said drainboard and the other beneath the said sink, said package containing a water heater tank within the compartment beneath the drainboard and provided with an electric heating element, thermostatic controls operatively connected to said water heater tank and heater unit, an electrically energized water pump within the compartment beneath the sink, hot and cold water valves, and all of the piping and electrical energizing and control connections between the pump, water heater tank, heating element, and valves.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent 2,281,370 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,287,181

96,259 Murdock Oct. 26, 1869 1,198,344 Gonsouland Sept. 12, 1916 271,864 2,146,933 Coordes Feb. 14, 1939 850,220 2,175,330 Watt Oct. 10, 1939 8 Morrison et al Apr. 28, 1942 Latonski June 23, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Feb. 16, 1951 Germany Sept. 22, 1952 

